Work to improve Hayling Billy Trail can go ahead after funding for £500,000 scheme was approved

A half-a-million-pound project for the second phase of improvements to the Hayling Billy Trail has been approved, with work set to begin later this year.

Around 1.1km of the Hayling Island trail will be resurfaced with a 2.5 to 3-metre-wide path for walkers and cyclists. Where possible, there will also be an unsurfaced strip for horse riders.

Hampshire County Council approved the second phase of improvements, covering the southern section of the trail between Sinah Lane and the part upgraded in 2024. The project will be paid for by a grant from Active Travel England.

The Hayling Billy Trail follows the route of a former railway line between Havant and Hayling Island. It is used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, and is part of the Shipwrights Way and National Cycle Network Route 2.

Council documents say the work is needed because parts of the trail are at risk from flooding, erosion and storm damage.

Some sections are less than one metre above sea level, making them difficult to use after bad weather.

The council said the improvements will make the trail easier to use all year round. It added that wheelchair users, people using mobility scooters, parents with pushchairs and older people will all benefit from the work.

The trail also provides an important traffic-free route between Hayling Island and Havant, giving people access to shops, services and jobs without using busy roads.

Work is expected to begin in November and finish by March 2027. The trail will remain a permissive path rather than becoming a public right of way.

The council has also set aside a further £600,000 for future phases, with the aim of upgrading the full length of the Hayling Billy Trail on Hayling Island.